Mycoplasma penetrans urethritis in men. A case–control study

<i>M. penetrans</i> DNA was detected in 7/55 (12.7%) of the idiopathic urethritis cases, but not in any of the controls (<i>p</i> < 0.001). None of the <i>M. penetrans</i>-positive patients had HIV infection and six were MSM. The results from this study indicate an association between infection by <i>M. penetrans</i> and urethritis in men. Therefore, the use of techniques for detecting <i>M. penetrans</i> could help bridge the diagnostic gap in idiopathic urethritis.